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Appendix A Information System Hardware

The document discusses computer hardware components and their functions. It describes input devices like keyboards and mice that allow entering of text, numbers, images and audio. Processing devices like the central processing unit and motherboard translate inputs into outputs by executing instructions. Output devices like monitors and printers display and print the processed data. The system unit houses all the electronic components and motherboard that work together to run the computer.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
80 views33 pages

Appendix A Information System Hardware

The document discusses computer hardware components and their functions. It describes input devices like keyboards and mice that allow entering of text, numbers, images and audio. Processing devices like the central processing unit and motherboard translate inputs into outputs by executing instructions. Output devices like monitors and printers display and print the processed data. The system unit houses all the electronic components and motherboard that work together to run the computer.

Uploaded by

MolderX
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Appendix A

Information
System
Hardware
www.prenhall.com/jessup

A-1

Computer Hardware Equipment Categories


Input
Input
The
Theact
act of
ofentering
enteringinformation
informationinto
intoaacomputer
computer using
usingaa
device
devicethat
thatisisbest
bestsuited
suitedfor
for the
the format
format of
of the
thedata
data(i.e.
(i.e.aa
keyboard
keyboardfor
for character
characterinformation)
information)
Processing
Processing
Transforming
Transforminginputs
inputsinto
intooutputs
outputsby
by use
useof
of highly
highly
specialized
specializedcomputer
computer components
componentsthat
thatare
areintegrated
integrated
to
tocommunicate
communicatewith
withinput
inputand
andoutput
outputdevices
devices
Output
Output
The
Theact
actof
ofreceiving
receivinginformation
information from
from aacomputer
computer
using
usingthe
thedevice
devicethat
that best
best suits
suitsthe
theapplication
application(i.e.
(i.e.
aaprinter
printerfor
for aamemo)
memo)
Information Systems Today

A-2

(2006 Prentice Hall)

Computer Hardware

Output Device
Monitor

Input Device
Keyboard
Information Systems Today

Processing Device
The System Unit
A-3

(2006 Prentice Hall)

Input Needs and Devices


Entering
EnteringText
Text and
andNumbers
Numbers
The
The keyboard
keyboardisisthe
theprimary
primaryentry
entrydevice
device for
for this
this
requirement.
requirement. Ergonomic
Ergonomicversions
versionshave
havebeen
beencreated
created to
to
minimize
minimizerepetitive
repetitivestress
stressinjuries
injuries
Pointing
Pointingand
andSelecting
Selecting
These
Thesedevices
devicescome
comein
inmany
manyshapes,
shapes, sizes
sizes and
and styles
styles
including:
including: mice,
mice, light
light pens,
pens, touch
touchpads,
pads, touch
touch screens,
screens,
joysticks,
joysticks, etc.,
etc., and
andare
areused
usedfor
formany
manyapplications
applicationsfrom
from
drafting
draftingdocuments
documentsto
toonline
onlinegaming
gaming
Entering
EnteringBatch
BatchData
Data
The
Themost
mostcommon
commondevice
devicefor
for this
thisisisthe
the scanner
scanner used
usedin
in
conjunction
conjunctionwith
with optical
optical character
character recognition
recognition(OCR)
(OCR)
software
softwarethat
thatcan
canconvert
converttext
textinto
intodigital
digitaldata
data quickly.
quickly.
Other
Other techniques
techniquesare
areoptical
opticalmark
markrecognition,
recognition,barcode
barcode
readers,
readers,magnetic
magneticink
ink character
characterreaders,
readers, etc.
etc.
Information Systems Today

A-4

(2006 Prentice Hall)

Input Devices Text and Pointing

Information Systems Today

A-5

(2006 Prentice Hall)

Input Needs and Devices


Smart
SmartCards
Cards
AAspecial
specialkind
kindof
ofcredit
creditcard
cardwith
withaamagnetic
magneticstrip,
strip,
microprocessor,
microprocessor,or
ormemory
memorycircuits
circuitsthat
thatcan
canbe
beused
usedfor
for
many
manyapplications
applicationsand
andisisresistant
resistantto
totampering
tampering
Entering
EnteringAudio
Audio
Sound
Soundisisdigitized
digitizedwhen
when stored
storedand
and processed
processedon
onaa
computer
computer and
andgenerally
generallycomes
comesin
intwo
twocategories
categories

Voice
VoiceInput
Inputthis
thisisisdone
doneby
byspeaking
speakinginto
intoaamicrophone
microphone
and
andcan
canbe
bemade
madevery
verypowerful
powerfulwhen
whencoupled
coupledwith
withvoice
voice
recognition
recognitionsoftware
softwareenabling
enablingaavoice
voiceconversion
conversionto
totext
textor
or
other
otherforms
forms
Other
OtherAudio
Audiothis
thisisisdone
donethrough
throughconnecting
connectingaacomputer
computer
to
toother
otheraudio
audiotransfer
transferdevices
devices(e.g.
(e.g.musical
musicalinstrument
instrumentdigital
digital
transfer
transfer(MIDI))
(MIDI))

Information Systems Today

A-6

(2006 Prentice Hall)

Input Needs and Devices


Entering
EnteringVideo
Video
Images
Imagesare
aredigitized
digitizedand
andstored
stored in
in both
both still
stilland
andmoving
moving
formats
formatsor
or streaming
streamingvideo.
video. AAnumber
numberof
of devices
devicescan
canbe
be
used
usedfor
for this
thispurpose
purpose
Still
Still Images
Images
These
Theseimages
imagesare
aregenerally
generallyentered
entered from
from digital
digitalcameras,
cameras,
devices
devicesthat
thatcan
canread
readdigital
digitalcamera
cameracards
cardsor
orchips,
chips,or
or CDs
CDs
generated
generatedat
at the
thetime
timeof
offilm
film camera
cameraprocessing
processing
Streaming
Streaming Video
Video and
andStreaming
Streaming Media
Media
Steaming
Steamingvideo
videoimages
imagescontain
containonly
onlyvideo,
video,while
whilestreaming
streaming
media
mediacombine
combineboth
bothaudio
audioand
and video.
video. Images
Imagescan
canbe
be
entered
enteredinto
intoaa computer
computerusing
using VCRs,
VCRs, video
video cameras,
cameras, DVD,
DVD,
Web
Webcams,
cams,etc..
etc.. These
Theseare
are extremely
extremely large
largefiles
filesdue
dueto
tothe
the
dense
densenature
natureof
ofthe
thevideo
videocontent
content
Information Systems Today

A-7

(2006 Prentice Hall)

Input Needs and Devices

Information Systems Today

A-8

(2006 Prentice Hall)

Processing
Processing
The role of processing in a computer system is to
translate inputs into outputs. This is done through a
combination of language and system components
Language
Language
Computers
Computersspeak
speakaa
language
languagecalled
calledbinary
binaryor
or
machine
machinelanguage
language
which
whichconsists
consistsof
of 0s
0s&&1s
1s

Information Systems Today

System
SystemUnit
Unit
The
Thephysical
physicalbox
boxthat
that
houses
housesall
allof
ofthe
theworking
working
electronic
electroniccomponents
componentsof
of
the
thecomputer
computer

A-9

(2006 Prentice Hall)

Processing Language
Binary
Binaryor
orMachine
MachineLanguage
Language
The
Thelanguage
languagethat
that all
allcomputers
computersuse
use
IT
ITisis expressed
expressedin
in0s
0s or
or 1s
1sonly
only(see
(seebelow)
below)
Binary
Binaryutilizes
utilizesBase-2
Base-2math
mathto
toconvert
convertfrom
from normal
normal
characters
charactersto
tobinary
binarycode
code (e.g.
(e.g.AA== 0100
01000001
0001in
inbinary)
binary)
Binary Example

How a Computer Uses it

A = 0100 0001
Bit
Bit
AAsingle
single
00or
or11

Byte
Byte
(8
(8bits)
bits)
Makes
Makesup
up
one
one
character
character

Information Systems Today

A-10

(2006 Prentice Hall)

Processing Language Binary Example


Example ASCII Binary
Types
Types of
of Binary
Binary
Micro
MicroComputers
Computers
ASCII
ASCII--88bit
bit
Extended
Extended88bit
bit
Mainframe
MainframeComputers
Computers
EBCIDIC
EBCIDIC88bit
bit
Other
OtherTypes
Types
Unicode
Unicode16
16bit
bit
(used
(usedfor
forinternational
international
languages)
languages)

Information Systems Today

A-11

(2006 Prentice Hall)

Processing The System Unit


The
TheSystem
SystemUnit
Unit
The
Thephysical
physicalbox
boxthat
thathouses
housesall
allof
of the
theworking
workingelectronic
electronic
components
componentsof
ofthe
thecomputer
computer
Components
Components
Support
Support electronic
electronicequipment
equipmentto
torun
runthe
themachine
machine
Central
Central Processing
ProcessingUnit
Unit(CPU)
(CPU) the
theprimary
primary
processor
processorin
inaacomputer
computer
Primary
PrimaryStorage
Storage temporary
temporary and
and permanent
permanentstorage
storage
used
usedby
bythe
thecomputer
computerto
to operate
operate
Secondary
SecondaryStorage
Storage longer-term
longer-term storage
storagefor
for data
data
Ports
Portsand
andSlots
Slots mechanisms
mechanismsto
toconnect
connectdevices
devices
and
andspecialty
specialtyprocessors
processors
Information Systems Today

A-12

(2006 Prentice Hall)

Processing Motherboard, Power Supply, Fan


Motherboard
Motherboard
Contains
Containsall
allthe
theof
of the
thecomponents
componentsthat
thatdo
dothe
theactual
actual
processing
processingwork
workincluding
including
Central
CentralProcessing
ProcessingUnit
Unit
RAM
RAMand
andROM
ROM
Secondary
SecondaryStorage
StorageDevices
Devices(e.g
(e.ghard
harddrive)
drive)
Slots
Slots--connecting
connectingspecialty
specialtyprocessors
processors
Ports
Ports --connecting
connectinginput/output
input/outputdevices
devices

Power
PowerSupply
Supply
Converts
Converts standard
standard110/240
110/240volt
voltAC
ACto
tolower
lower voltages
voltages
such
suchas
as 5/10
5/10volt
volt DC
DCfor
for use
usein
inthe
thecomputer
computer
Fan
Fan
Low
Low voltage
voltagedevice
devicedesigned
designedto
toprotect
protect the
the computer
computer
from
from the
thehigh
highheat
heat generated
generatedby
bythe
theCPU
CPU
Information Systems Today

A-13

(2006 Prentice Hall)

Processing Mother Board Example

Information Systems Today

A-14

(2006 Prentice Hall)

Processing Central Processing Unit


Central
CentralProcessing
ProcessingUnit
Unit(CPU)
(CPU)
Called
Calledthe
thebrains
brainsof
of the
thecomputer,
computer,its
itsrole
roleisisto
toperform
perform
the
theoperations
operationsof
ofthe
thecomputer
computerusing
usingtwo
twocomponents:
components:

Control
ControlUnit
Unitthis
thisdevice
deviceinterprets
interpretsinstructions
instructionsand
and
transmits
transmitsdirection
directionto
tothe
thecomputers
computerscomponents
components
Arithmetic
ArithmeticLogic
LogicUnit
Unitthis
thisdevice
deviceperforms
performsmath
mathas
aswell
wellas
as
logical
logicaloperations
operationsby
byinterpreting
interpretingand
andexecuting
executinginstructions
instructions

CPU
CPUOperations
Operations

Fetching
Fetching --loading
loadingthe
thenext
nextprogram
programinstruction
instructionfrom
frommemory
memory
Decoding
Decoding--determines
determinesthe
thenext
nextoperation
operationby
byusing
usingregisters
registers
(temporary
(temporarystorage)
storage)to
tostore
storethe
theinstructions
instructionsand
andmemory
memory
location
locationused
used
Retrieving
Retrievingloading
loadingthe
thenecessary
necessarydata
datafrom
frommemory
memoryand
and
telling
tellingthe
theALU
ALUto
toexecute
executethe
therequired
requiredinstructions
instructions
Storing
Storingplacing
placingthe
theresults
resultsof
ofthe
thecomputations
computationsin
inaaregister
register
or
orin
inmemory
memory

Information Systems Today

A-15

(2006 Prentice Hall)

Processing Central Processing Unit


Moores
MooresLaw
Law (1970s)
(1970s)
Dr.
Dr.Gordon
GordonMoore
Moorefrom
from Intel
Intel
hypothesized
hypothesizedthat
that processing
processing
performance
performancewould
would double
double
every
every18
18months
months

CPU
CPUProcessing
Processing
Intel
IntelPentium
Pentium IV
IV
CPU
CPUpacks
packs55
55
million
milliontransistors
transistors

Information Systems Today

A-16

(2006 Prentice Hall)

Processing Central Processing Unit


Clock
ClockSpeed
Speed
The
Thesystem
system clock
clock generate
generatepulses
pulsesat
ataarapid
rapidrate
rateregulating
regulating
the
thespeed
speedof
ofthe
theprocessor.
processor.AAclock
clocktick
tick isis one
onepulse
pulseand
and
the
the clock
clockspeed
speed isis measured
measuredin
inhertz
hertz(see
(seebelow)
below)
Registers
Registers
Provide
Providetemporary
temporarystorage
storagewhere
wheredata
datamust
mustreside
residewhile
whileitit isis
being
beingprocessed
processedor
or manipulated
manipulated
Cache
CacheMemory
Memory
AAsmall
smallblock
blockof
ofmemory
memoryused
usedby
bythe
theprocessors
processorsto
tostore
store
those
thoseinstructions
instructionsmost
most recently
recentlyor
or most
mostoften.
often. This
This
significantly
significantlyincreases
increasesthe
thespeed
speedof
of the
the processor.
processor.Cache
Cache
memory
memorycomes
comesin
intwo
twotypes:
types:
Internal
Internal incorporated
incorporatedin
inthe
themicroprocessors
microprocessorsdesign
design
External
External isis not
not built
built into
intothe
theCPU
CPUbut
but isislocated
locatedon
onthe
the
motherboard
motherboardfor
for easy
easyaccess
access
Information Systems Today

A-17

(2006 Prentice Hall)

Processing Central Processing Unit


Computer-Related Speeds

Information Systems Today

A-18

(2006 Prentice Hall)

Processing Primary Storage


Primary
PrimaryStorage
Storage
This
Thisstorage
storageisisused
usedfor
for temporary
temporarystorage
storageto
tosupport
support
computer
computer processing
processingand
andcome
comein
inRAM
RAM and
and ROM
ROMtypes
types
Random
RandomAccess
AccessMemory
Memory(RAM)
(RAM)
This
Thisisisthe
thecomputers
computersmain
mainprocessing
processingstorage
storageand
and
consists
consistsof
of several
several chips
chipscontaining
containingthousands
thousandsof
of
electronic
electroniccircuits
circuitsetched
etchedin
insilicon
siliconmounted
mountedon
onaasmall
small
circuit
circuitboard
boardcall
callaa single
singleinline
inlinememory
memorymodule
module
(SIMM).
(SIMM). RAM
RAMhas
hasthe
thefollowing
followingcharacteristics:
characteristics:
Provides
Providestemporary
temporarystorage
storagefor
for computer
computeroperation
operation
Stores
Storesdata
dataprograms
programsand
anddata
datacurrently
currentlyin
inuse
use
CPU
CPUcan
canrandomly
randomlyaccess
accessthe
thedata
datastored
storedin
inRAM
RAM
Instructions
Instructionsare
areconsidered
considered volatile
volatile and
andwill
willbe
belost
lost
when
whenthe
thecomputer
computerisisturned
turned off
off
Information Systems Today

A-19

(2006 Prentice Hall)

Processing Primary Storage


Read-Only
Read-OnlyMemory
Memory(ROM)
(ROM)
This
Thismemory
memoryexists
existson
on aa chip
chipon
onthe
the motherboard
motherboard and
and
contains
contains information
information that
thatcan
canbe
beread
readby
bythe
the computer
computer
but
but not
notwritten
writtento.
to. ROM
ROMstores
storesthe
the instructions
instructions required
requiredto
to
run
runthe
the computer
computer before
beforethe
the system
system software
software takes
takesover
over
Electrically
ElectricallyErasable
ErasableProgrammable
ProgrammableRead-Only
Read-OnlyMemory
Memory
(EEPROM
(EEPROM or
oralso
also called
calledFlash
FlashMemory)
Memory)
This
Thisisisaa variation
variation of
of ROM
ROMthat
thatcan
canbe
be read
readand
and
repeatedly
repeatedly written
written to
toand
and erased
erasedlike
likeRAM,
RAM, but
butisisdifferent
different
in
inthat
thatthe
the information
information isisretained
retainedafter
afterthe
the power
powerisis turned
turned
off
off

Information Systems Today

A-20

(2006 Prentice Hall)

Processing Secondary Storage


Secondary
SecondaryStorage
Storage
This
Thisnonvolatile
nonvolatilestorage
storage isis used
usedto
to permanently
permanentlystore
store
information
information and
andisis not
not part
partof
of the
the CPU
CPUbut
but isis connected
connected
through
throughthe
the system
system bus.
bus. ItItcomes
comesin
inmany
manytypes
types
Hard
HardDrives
Drives
These
Thesedevices
devicesuse
useaathin
thinlayer
layer of
of magnetic
magneticmedia
media on
on aa
plastic
plasticor
or steel
steel disk
disk and
andhave
have aavery
very high
highstorage
storage
capacity.
capacity. Redundant
Redundantarray
arrayof
of independent
independent disks
disks
(RAID)
(RAID) isisaastorage
storagetechnique
technique using
usingmultiple
multiplehard
harddisks
disksto
to
secure
securedata
dataagainst
against aasingle
single device
devicefailure
failureor
or crash
crash
Diskettes
Diskettes
These
Theseare
are portable
portable magnetic
magnetic media,
media, similar
similar to
to hard
hard
drives,
drives, written
writtento
toby
byinserting
insertingthe
thediskette
disketteinto
intoaa diskette
diskette
drive.
drive. AAhigh-capacity
high-capacitydiskette
diskettedrive
drivesystem
system that
thatstores
stores
over
over100
100times
times aanormal
normaldiskette
disketteisiscalled
called aa ZIP
ZIPdrive
drive
Information Systems Today

A-21

(2006 Prentice Hall)

Processing Secondary Storage


Optical
Optical Disk
Disk
This
Thistechnology
technology uses
usesaalaser
laserto:
to: write
writeby
byburning
burningspots
spots
into
intoaadisk
diskcoated
coatedwith
withaametallic
metallic substance
substancerepresenting
representingaa
data
datapackage;
package; read
read by
byinterpreting
interpretingthe
thereflection
reflectionof
ofthe
the
light
light off
offthe
theburned
burnedin
indata
dataspots.
spots. These
Thesedisks
diskscome
comein
in
several
severaltypes:
types:

Magneto-Optical
Magneto-Optical(MO)
(MO)this
thisdisk
diskcontains
containstiny
tinymagnetic
magnetic
crystals
crystalsallowing
allowingthe
thedisk
diskto
tobe
bewritten
writtento
tomultiple
multipletimes
timesand
andisis
extremely
extremelyhigh
highcapacity
capacity
Compact
CompactDisk
Disk(CD)
(CD)this
thistechnology
technologyisisstandard
standardequipment
equipment
on
onPCs
PCsand
andcomes
comesin
intwo
twotypes:
types:(CD-R)
(CD-R)write
writeonce;
once;(CD-RW)
(CD-RW)
allows
allowsto
towrite
writemultiple
multipletimes
times
Digital
DigitalVideo
VideoDisk
Disk(DVD)
(DVD)aacommon
commonstorage
storageformat
formatused
used
for
formovies
moviesand
andother
othervideo
videomedia
mediabut
butcan
canalso
alsobe
beused
usedfor
for
data
datastorage
storageand
andholds
holdsover
over77times
timesaaCDs
CDscapacity
capacity

Information Systems Today

A-22

(2006 Prentice Hall)

Processing Secondary Storage


Magnetic
MagneticTape
Tape
Used
Usedfor
forstorage
storage of
ofcomputer
computer information
informationconsisting
consistingof
of aa
narrow
narrowtape
tapecoated
coatedwith
withaamagnetic
magneticsubstance,
substance, Unlike
Unlikeall
all
other
othersecondary
secondary storage
storagemediums,
mediums, this
thistechnology
technologyreads
reads
and
andwrites
writesdata
datasequentially.
sequentially. Tape
Tape isiscommonly
commonlyused
used for
for
backing
backingup
updata
datafrom
from other
othersecondary
secondarystorage
storagetechnologies
technologies
Secondary Storage A Comparison

Information Systems Today

A-23

(2006 Prentice Hall)

Processing Ports and Slots


These
Theseare
aredevices
devicesused
usedto
toprovide
providehardware
hardwareinterfaces
interfaces
plugs
plugsand
and sockets
sockets-- to
to connect
connect devices
devices to
to computers
computers
and
andcomponents
componentsto
to provide
provide aafully
fully functional
functionalcomputer
computer

Information Systems Today

A-24

(2006 Prentice Hall)

Output Devices
Video
Video
AAvisual
visualdisplay
displayof
ofdata
datathat
thatsupports
supportsmotion
motion using
usingaa
monitor
monitor (black
(blackand
andwhite
whiteor
or color)
color) coming
comingin
intwo
twotypes:
types:

Cathode
CathodeRay
RayTube
Tube(CRT)
(CRT)aaboxy
boxydevicelike
devicelikeaatelevision
television
Liquid
LiquidCrystal
CrystalDisplay
Display(LCD)
(LCD)aaflat
flatscreen
screenused
usedin
in
notebooks
notebooksor
oras
asaastand-alone
stand-alonedevice
device
Projection
ProjectionAAdevice
devicethat
thatprojects
projectsaapicture
pictureonto
ontoaascreen
screen

CRT

LCD
Information Systems Today

A-25

(2006 Prentice Hall)

Output Devices
Printers
Printersand
andPlotters
Plotters
AAvisual
visualdisplay
displaythat
thatisispresented
presentedon
onhard
hardcopy
copy(e.g.
(e.g.paper)
paper)

Dot
DotMatrix
Matrixolder
oldertechnology
technologyusing
usingaaseries
seriesof
ofdots
dotsto
tocreate
create
characters,
characters,typically
typicallyin
inblack
blackand
andwhite
white
Ink-jet
Ink-jetnewer
newertechnology
technologythat
thatsprays
spraysink
inkonto
ontopaper
paperin
in
character
characteror
orimage
imageformat
formatin
incolor
coloror
orblack-and-white
black-and-white
Laser
Laseraavery
veryhigh-quality
high-qualitytechnology
technologythat
thatuses
usesan
an
electrostatic
electrostaticprocess
processthat
thatburns
burnsink
inkinto
intocharacters
charactersor
orimages
images
and
andalso
alsocomes
comesin
inblack-and-white
black-and-whiteor
orcolor
color(very
(veryexpensive)
expensive)

Information Systems Today

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(2006 Prentice Hall)

Output Devices
Audio
Audio
Audio
Audioisistransmitted
transmittedusing
usingaa sound
sound card
card connected
connectedto
to
speakers
speakersthat
thatisisinserted
insertedinto
intoone
oneof
of the
the motherboards
motherboards
slots.
slots. The
Thecomputer
computer translates
translates digits
digitsinto
intosound
sound by
by
sending
sendingthe
the data
datato
tothe
the sound
soundcard
card that
thatinterprets
interpretsthese
these
data
datainto
intotones
tones

Information Systems Today

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(2006 Prentice Hall)

Types of Computers
Supercomputers
Mainframe
Computers

Workstations

Microcomputers

Midrange
Computers
Information Systems Today

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(2006 Prentice Hall)

Types of Computers - Generations of Computing

Information Systems Today

A-29

(2006 Prentice Hall)

Types of Computers Supercomputer & Workstations


Supercomputer

These
Theseare
arethe
themost
mostpowerful
powerfuland
and
expensive
expensivecomputers
computerson
onearth
earthand
andare:
are:
built
built and
andused
usedfor
forone
onespecific
specificpurpose
purpose
(e.g.
(e.g.weather
weatherforecasting)
forecasting)
thousands
thousandsof
of time
timemore
morepowerful
powerfulthan
than
aahigh-powered
high-poweredPC
PC
Workstations

AAspecial
specialclass
class of
ofcomputers
computersdesigned
designed
for
for individuals,
individuals,with
withhigh
highpower
powerto
to
perform
perform specialized
specializedtasks,
tasks,and
andfits
fitson
onthe
the
desktop
desktopand
andused
usedfor:
for:
extremely
extremelydata-intensive
data-intensiveprocessing
processing
(i.e.
(i.e.design
designor
or financial
financialanalysis)
analysis)
Information Systems Today

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Types of Computers Mainframe & Midrange


Mainframe
Computer

Midrange
Computer
Information Systems Today

These
Theseare
arethe
thebackbone
backboneof
of large
largecorporate
corporate
and
andgovernment
governmentcomputing
computingand:
and:
can
canprocess
processvery
verylarge
largeamounts
amountsof
of
information
information
support
supporthundreds
hundredsor
or thousands
thousandsof
ofusers
users
simultaneously
simultaneously
These
Theseare
aresmaller
smaller versions
versions of
ofmainframe
mainframe
computers
computersused
usedin
insmaller
smaller organizations
organizations
and
andfor
for multiple
multiplefunctions
functionsand:
and:
supports
supportstens,
tens,or
or hundreds,
hundreds,of
of users
users
used
usedas
asservers
serversincluding
including Web,
Web,
database,
database,and
andapplication
applicationservers
servers
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Types of Computers Microcomputers


Personal
Computers
PCs
PCscome
comein
indesktop
desktopand
andportable
portable
models
modelsand
andare
arecommonly
commonlyused
usedfor
for
personal
personaland
andbusiness
businessuses,
uses, they
theyare
are
generally
generallylow
low cost
costand
andhave
havemany
many
powerful
powerfulapplications
applicationswritten
writtenfor
for them
them
Network
Computers
AAnetwork
networkcomputer
computer isis aamicrocomputer
microcomputer
with
withminimal
minimalmemory
memoryand
andstorage,
storage,
designed
designedto
toconnect
connect to
toaanetwork,
network,
especially
especiallythe
theInternet,
Internet,using
usingresources
resources
provided
providedby
byservers
serversat
atlow
lowcost
cost
Information Systems Today

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(2006 Prentice Hall)

Types of Computers - Microcomputers


Portable Computers
These smaller, lighter weight computers are designed to
enable mobile processing
Notebook
A lightweight PC designed to be portable with
sufficient battery power to be useful
Tablet
TabletPC
PC
AAsmall
smallPC
PCwith
withaaremovable
removablescreen
screenthat
thatcan
canbe
be
used
usedas
asaawriting
writingtablet
tablet with
withaastylus
stylus
Handheld
HandheldComputer
Computer
Small
Smallcomputers
computersthat
that can
canbe
becarried
carriedon
onthe
thebody
body
including
including PDAs,
PDAs,cell
cellphones,
phones,etc.
etc.
Information Systems Today

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(2006 Prentice Hall)

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